Repository logo
 

Q-switched Dy:ZBLAN fiber lasers beyond 3 μm: comparison of pulse generation using acousto-optic modulation and inkjet-printed black phosphorus.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Woodward, RI 
Majewski, MR 
Macadam, N 
Hu, G 
Albrow-Owen, Thomas  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0443-014X

Abstract

We report high-energy mid-infrared pulse generation by Q-switching of dysprosium-doped fiber lasers for the first time. Two different modulation techniques are demonstrated. Firstly, using active acousto-optic modulation, pulses are produced with up to 12 μJ energy and durations as short as 270 ns, with variable repetition rates from 100 Hz to 20 kHz and central wavelengths tunable from 2.97 to 3.23 μm. Experiments are supported by numerical modeling, identifying routes for improved pulse energies and to avoid multi-pulsing by careful choice of modulator parameters. Secondly, we demonstrate passive Q-switching by fabricating an inkjet-printed black phosphorus saturable absorber, simplifying the cavity and generating 1.0 μJ pulses with 740 ns duration. The performance and relative merits of each modulation approach are then critically discussed. These demonstrations highlight the potential of dysprosium as a versatile gain medium for high-performance pulsed sources beyond 3 μm.

Description

Keywords

0205 Optical Physics

Journal Title

Opt Express

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1094-4087
1094-4087

Volume Title

27

Publisher

The Optical Society

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/L016087/1)
Australian Research Council (ARC) DP170100531, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) EP/L016087/1